The life of Rev. Dr. J.W. Sanders Sr. will be chronicled in the book “From Obscurity to Prominence,” which is expected to be released later this year. Despite his journeys across the nation and world, Rev. Dr. J.W. Sanders Sr. never shed the title of being that man from the small town of Union.

Never living more than 30 miles from the small Upstate municipality, it was there where his roots were cast, being brought up in a home where God came first.

This is where the local pastor began work on an autobiography chronicling his life, eventually compiling more than 800 pages of information, including 61 handwritten pages and 54 taped interviews.

Working with renowned author Toschia Moffett Santiago of Divine Literary Publishing, Sanders spent the past year examining every portion of his life, hoping his story of rising from relative obscurity to prominence would uplift the spirits of those whose lives were in need of a boost.

“It is my sincere hope that this work will be an inspiration to those in need,” Sanders said during an interview with Santiago. “I have spent my life maintaining the commodity that is needed to reach the investment of other people and help them to know that one can be what he or she desires; that whatever they will commit themselves to the task of doing and giving of their best in their everyday walk through life.”

Sanders was not able to finish the story based on his life’s work, passing away Tuesday in Spartanburg at the age of 80.

Called at the age of 19 to become a preacher, he spent the next 61 years of his life behind the pulpit at Bethel Baptist Church in Gaffney, setting the foundation for a variety of community ministry programs while the local congregation sprouted to more than 400 members under his leadership. He also spent 38 years as pastor at Island Creek Baptist Church.

“I love that man to death,” said Bethel Baptist Church deacon Chris Dewberry. “He was the only pastor I have ever known.”

During his final days, Sanders corresponded with Moffett as they began putting the finishing touches on his autobiography, titled “From Obscurity to Prominence,” which is expected to be released later this year.

The renowned author said she was quite surprised to learn of Sanders’ death, spending so much time with him only days before.

“I am still in shock,” Moffett said. “I am very sad since I spent over four days with him last week and he was so excited about this project. But this, to me, is the reason we must chronicle his life; he was a living, breathing piece of history.”

Sanders served as moderator and moderator emeritus of the Thicketty Mountain Baptist Association, a trustee at Morris College in Sumter, vice chairman of trustees at South Carolina State University and president of the Cherokee County Black Ministerial Alliance.

He also was not shy about delving into civic matters. spending time as chairman of the Regional Agency on Aging, which covered six Upstate counties. In addition, he was appointed by Gov. Mark Sanford to the S.C. Public Service Authority’s Board of Directors and served as vice principal at Sims High School in Union during his years as an educator.

The local minister was recognized as one of the nation’s top Black leaders on several occasions in the “Who’s Who in America” publication, and was given the state’s highest civilian honor, the Order of the Palmetto.

However, Sanders’ biggest prize likely comes without an award — the investment he made in the lives of countless Cherokee County youths.

“If our youth do not know their history, then they really do not who they are,” Sanders said in an essay for an upcoming Divine Literary Tour anthology, “Perceptions of Color.”

“Not only should they study their history, it must be presented in a way that creates a sense of pride. Our youth need to read and see strong Black men and women who do magnificent things,” Sanders said.

Among those who had an up-close and personal view of Sanders during his many years of ministry was U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D- S.C.), who described him as “a force for what is good throughout the community and the state.”

“Dr. Sanders was most powerful where he was most at home, in the pulpit of Bethel Baptist Church; and I will long remember the sermons I heard him preach there,” Spratt said. “But his influence reached far beyond his own parish. He guided, shaped and inspired the lives of countless young people, and was a force for what is good throughout the community, and for that matter, the entire state, for he was widely known and respected.

“I too will mess Rev. Sanders, but I will never forget his advice and insights, and the way he practiced what he believed.”